Technology and Innovation

1. Technology and Innovation Louise Bloom

2. Technology in livelihoods • Individual use of technology in livelihoods • Fitting into local systems • Innovation in livelihoods • What is innovation? • Using the HIP innovation framework • Examples of innovation in Nakivale and Kyangwali • Enabling innovation

3. Technology as an entry point into livelihoods • The role of technology • Skills, knowledge and ideas • Adaption over time and transfer of technology • Links to markets and systems

4. Energy Infrastructure Nakivale Refugee Settlement Single purchases from Mbarara Dry cell batteries Solar Power Manual Solar Panel Phone Charging Street Lighting (UNHCR) Paraffin Salon Fire Battery Fuel Internet New power lines (not yet connected) Donated by friends & family Computer Phone repair Music & film

5. Energy Infrastructure Nakivale Refugee Settlement Single purchases from Mbarara Solar Power Solar Panel Phone Charging Street Lighting (UNHCR) Salon CTA Battery Internet Donated by friends & family Computer Phone repair Music & film

6. Restaurant Phone Charging Battery Salon Computer Rainwater selling Power supply to others Battery recharge Milling Machine Taxi Bus Lighting Generator Traders Transport Game shop Cinema Fuel in 20L jerry cans Refrigerator in shop UNHCR and Gov fuel store Fuel Supplier truck

7. Single purchases from Mbarara – solar panels, computers, online music and film Charcoal Agricultural waste Fire Solar Power Solar Panel Phone Charging Cooking Street Lighting (UNHCR) Restaurant Wood cut and carried Salon Bakery CTA Battery Donations from family and friends Tailoring, Tool sharpening, Bicycle or hand carry Internet Computer Phone repair Manual Radio Battery recharge Power supply to others Music & film Water Milling Machine Dry cell batteries Taxi Bus New power lines (not yet connected) Lighting Generator Transport Traders Game shop Brought in 20L jerry cans Cinema Refrigerator in shop Traders UNHCR and Gov fuel store Supplier truck Fuel Paraffin

8. Water treadle pump – this one is used to pump rainwater from a tank to front of shop Handmade Congolese wooden bike for carrying heavy crops or water Bike converted to add a disc for sharpening tools – powered by the wheel

9. Technology an integral part of many livelihoods • Similar technologies in both sites • High level of re-use of materials • Connections and networks • Social networks vital • Integrated into local systems • Adaption and scale-up over time demonstrates innovation in livelihoods

10. Innovation • Process: to make improvements or change • Types • Tech (products) ; processes or business models • Incremental or Radical change • Learning and triggers Define the problem or Identify the opportunity Appropriately Scalethe solution Finda potential solution Test, Adapt and Use the solution

11. Innovation framework • Innovation from the bottom-up • Local capacity • Local systems • Using the innovation process

12. No income Somali shopkeeper Closed, not scaled Start a bakery Seen others –2nd hand clothing Make trays & flour on credit Mother-in-law is sick Buy, clean, repair then sell Illness and low revenue Ongoing Mother-in-law gives grinder Ongoing Still open, not growing v.fast Start a shop Uses the grinder to make samosas Diversify goods in shop Limited capital Saw neighbours mud stove Ongoing Copied and adapted for shop

13. Barriers to innovation • Challenges stated • Access to financial capital • Access to material resources • Physical health • Market access • Aspirations • Business growth and business advice • New skills and training

14. Next Steps • Deeper understanding of innovation in livelihoods • Barriers and opportunities • Enabling innovation • Types of spaces/ models that create an enabling environment? • Case studies of ‘innovation spaces’ • Variety: Community groups to new ICT Hubs

15. Constraints and opportunities in refugee livelihoods innovation • What enabling factors and environments? • Concept of a Refugee Innovation Centre

18. This old oil drum is being used as a cooker to sell cooked bananas in Rubundo Zone, Nakivale. Banana tree trunks are slotted through the holes at the top and meet in the middle to support the charcoal for cooking. Some wire mesh is used as the grill.

19. Reed matt, traditionally decorated for new brides, this congolese lady in Nakivale did not have access to coloured material, so collected sweet wrappers to use as decoration weaved into the matts...which sold for 2,000 more shillings than the plain matts.

20. Repair specialist in Kyangwali. He repairs saucepans with no welding, instead he uses scrap pans and metal with some basic tools to intricately fill the holes. He teaches others his same methods. And aspired to have a machine that made saucepans, though he didn't know what type of machine that would be.

21. A bee keeper invented this bee hive made from a hollow log, in order to help stop the rain entering the hive (as it does with the traditional bee hives made of vine). He got the idea from the technique that his grandparents used to make large baths for making drinks back in the DRC

22. Another repair man, repaired many items in Kyangwali. He taught himself how to repair umbrellas in the DRC, but now repairs plastic items, shoes and other HH goods. The chair on the right is his own resourceful way of fixing a plastic chair (which can’t be repaired with heat due to the type of plastic).